Maiya's Last Day: A Narrative Fiction

Once decorating the walls in the Chinese Xinghua si temple stood The Paradise of Maitreya and now a brilliant mural that rules the Bishop White gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum. The painting was made over 7 centuries ago throughout the Yuan dynasty, ruled by Khubilai Khan. This object is worthy of attention because it underwent extensive repairs and is still known today for its beauty, it has a deep and significant portrayal of the forthcoming of Buddha, as well the incredible backstory of the painting. This piece is truly irreplaceable and is vital for understanding the development of Chinese culture.

The Paradise of Maitreya is a wall painting by famed painter and Buddhist monk Zhu Haogu and his pupil Zhang Boyuan. It is 502 cm in height and 1101 cm in length, and was created on the southwestern portion of the Xinghua monastery in 1298, during China’s Yuan dynasty. The painting is done through the dry fresco method on one of the clay walls of the monastery, with ink and rich colour pigments being used to create the image itself. The technique used to create this painting was appropriate likely due to the ease in which the surface of the wall could be prepared and covered with clay, and how the ink and colour medium was one that was already being used at the time. After being restored, it was shipped to Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum’s Bishop White Gallery, where it currently resides. Though the overall surface of the wall painting is smooth and flat due to the technique used and the clay on which the ink was applied, there are still faint lines and faded areas that are likely due to the passage of time and how the painting had to be taken apart while being transported.

"I missed you too. I’ve been counting down the days until I can see you."

"I 'll miss you." She drew me close and gave me a hug, and I assured her I 'd be back sooner than she 'd realize. She then told me that she loved me.

"I missed you even while you were here. I will miss you infinitely more now that you're gone.

Starting off with a picture of how days were when she experienced her fifth-grade summer, the author adds in details that seem so minuscule, and unimportant to set the setting. The information about the cost of riding a trolley and the ice truck driving around on a hot day with blocks of ice provides the readers with the background of her story. In addition, by using diction that the author used as a child, such as “that-old-thing” and “help-him-out,” she brings the story to life as if it were still the 1900s. Every tiny detail that the author remembers about her childhood shown in this passage proves to the readers how important her fifth-grade summer was to her.

"Uh...can I talk to you?" A voice you didn't expect to hear made itself present.

17 year old Makayla was in her room watching T.V as usual. The sun was shining through the window. It was peaceful, but Makayla always wanted adventure. Makayla reached for her lucky sea shell that was on her dresser.

The house was mess. So was her life. Every minute of every day seemed so full. Her days were never ending with ball practice's, ballet classes, school meetings, home meetings, and business meetings; this-that, and the other. She felt

And then she turned to me. I felt special that she had saved me for last. I smiled at her, and she did the same to me. We had grown inseparable over the past few years especially, but now it was time to say goodbye. I knew at that point that nothing at all would change, that we would still be sisters, still be best friends, still be inseparable. Who cares if we’re 5 ½ hours away? This was us.

“Hello” I called out softly “are you awake yet?” My voice felt weird in my throat. I haven’t talked much since they brought me here two weeks ago.

When the end of the day finally came Sylvia was more unnerved than ever. Pushing open the heavy door and heading outside Sylvia was relaxed by the warmth of the sun. Tho the weather was still cold the sun seemed to wrap her in a

It was a painstakingly beautiful day outside. The weather was perfect and it seemed as if everything and everyone lived in perfect harmony that day. It was almost like any other average day, but something was slightly different. Tate and I were on the bus with 27 other kids, all fretting about some test that now seems so irrelevant in this cruel world. Everyone was studying but me; I had been gazing out the window reveling in the beauty of the familiar scenery.

“Hello Sophia!” My mom said back to me, looking up from her computer while she was sitting on the couch. “I wanted to let you know that me and your dad have planned something very special and fun to do tonight!”

Perceval chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll miss you and I love you. Stay safe.”